Microgrid-powered gold mine an Australian first

ARENA, on behalf of the Australian Government, will provide $13.5 million in funding for what will be the first Australian gold mine to be powered by a wind, solar, battery and gas microgrid.

Agnew Gold Mining Company, part of the Gold Fields Group (Gold Fields), will develop a high penetration renewable microgrid at its Agnew Gold Mine in the northern Goldfields, Western Australia.

The renewable hybrid microgrid will consist of five wind turbines delivering an 18MW wind farm, a 10,000 panel 4MW solar farm and a 13MW/4MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), with security and reliability of the microgrid underpinned by a 16MW gas engine power station. This will be the first time wind generation has been part of a large hybrid microgrid in the mining sector in Australia.

The renewable energy microgrid is expected to provide 55 to 60 per cent of the energy requirements of the gold mine, with the potential to meet almost all energy requirements at certain times.

Gold Fields will also adopt innovative operational practices such as dynamic load shedding, renewable resource forecasting and IPP-controlled load management to maximise renewable energy use while maintaining system security.

Distributed energy producer EDL will design, construct, own and operate the microgrid to power the Agnew Gold Mine in two stages, under a ten-year agreement with Gold Fields.

The first stage involving a new off-grid power station incorporating gas, diesel generation and solar is due to be completed in mid 2019. The second stage including the wind, battery and microgrid system recently started construction and will be completed in 2020.

“The project Gold Fields is undertaking will provide a blueprint for other companies to deploy similar off-grid energy solutions and demonstrate a pathway for commercialisation, helping to decarbonise the mining and resources sector.

“ARENA is continuing to help build a business case for renewables in mining which has been underlined by other successful projects such as Rio Tinto’s Weipa project and Sandfire Resources’ DeGrussa Solar Project, reducing their fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent.

“We’re excited to see more mining companies taking up renewable options and Gold Fields’ project comprising solar, wind and battery is helping to position into a more reliable and sustainable energy supply to call upon for the life of the mine.”

EDL CEO, James Harman, said the company had seen increasing momentum towards hybrid energy solutions, particularly in remote off-grid locations.

“EDL is pleased to be an active contributor to Australia’s transition to sustainable energy.

“Our strong base of knowledge and experience from our successful hybrid renewable projects will enable us to provide Agnew Gold Mine with greater than 50 per cent renewable energy over the long term, without compromising power quality or reliability.”